Kyneton train death ‘a fatal mistake’

SECURITY footage has confirmed a Bendigo man was racing to catch a train at Kyneton railway station before he was hit by the train in a fatal accident on Wednesday night.

Kyneton police have continued their investigation into the incident, where a 30-year-old man was struck by the express V/Line service just before 6pm.

Sergeant Shane Wyatt said the vision viewed by police showed the man was inches away from avoiding the train.

“He’s climbed across the pedestrian barrier gate,” he said. “In the footage you can see him sprinting to get to the other side, in an attempt to get to the platform and catch the train.

“He was obviously unaware that the express service wasn’t stopping at Kyneton.

“The train was about two inches from missing him... it’s just an extremely fatal mistake.”

Paramedics treated the man at the scene and he was flown to The Alfred hospital where he died a short time later.

Sergeant Wyatt said an inquest brief would be prepared for the coroner.

He said police were not concerned about the security of the 1.5-metre-high pedestrian barrier the man jumped over.

“As far as we’re concerned it complies with safety standards. He just made a fatal error of disobeying the warning signs,” Sergeant Wyatt said.

A VicTrack spokeswoman said the level crossing at Trentham Road-Mollison Street already had a high level of protection, with boom barriers and flashing lights, as did the pedestrian crossing, which has safety gates.

The spokeswoman said train users, pedestrians and motorists were reminded to obey all signals at level and pedestrian crossings.

A V/Line spokesman would not comment on the safety aspects of the barrier.